Buying a puppy is exciting! Deciding to introduce a dog into your life may be the best decision you ever make. Although the commitment may sound a little scary at first, this choice may be the first step towards gaining a lifelong trusty friend.
Preparing For the Puppy
Now you’ve decided to go through with the purchase, you should want to stock up on supplies like:
- Crate
- Bowls for water and food
- Food and also some treats for training
- A leash and a collar (you can find a variety of different useful dog collars)
- Chew Toys
- Stain and Odor-removing cleaners
- Portable dog potties
The list may sound overwhelming, but it’s better to be well-prepared, so you can truly enjoy that first week of bonding with the dog. You want to make sure that your new little friend feels a warm, embracing welcome into their new home.
Electric Collars
Now to talk about a cool gadget you can get to ease the process of your dog’s training.
E-Collars are dog collars that have a small electronic device implanted. This device can consist of a wireless remote and receiver you can use to send remote signals to alert your dog of unacceptable behavior. These collars are a good way to have direct and clear prompts for your dog, and make the interaction between the two of you less negative, by removing the need for other forms of discipline you otherwise would maybe have to use.
The signal your dog gets when you use the collar may be a spray, a sound, or a gentle shock. Used repetitively, each and every one of these signals will help develop your dog’s behavior.
The Crate
Everyone, including your dog, needs a private space to relax and recharge. So, a great new dog crate is one of the best gifts you can buy for your puppy. When choosing a crate, you should have a couple of things in mind. First and foremost is the size, how big is your dog? How much bigger will it grow to be? Will the dog like to look around, so the crate should have an opening? Take your time and find the perfect kind of crate to make your puppy perfectly happy.
Bowls for Water and Food
When looking for bowls for your new pet, you’ll come across three options: plastic, ceramic, or stainless-steel bowls. Plastic bowls will cost you the least and can last a long time, but if your dog likes to chew on the bowl, there may be an issue if they ingest bits of plastic that may hurt them intestinally. Ceramic bowls are heavy and very stable, but porous, so you will have to clean and scrub them on a daily basis. Stainless steel bowls don’t break and are very easy to rinse, so they are usually the number one choice vets will recommend to you.
A Leash
When you start looking for the right leash for your dog, the variety of choices may seem endless. In addition to its being a legal requirement, a dog leash is also an essential tool in keeping your dog safe, and in training them. You should have in mind a couple of things when browsing. Find a leash that is odor-resistant and easily washable. Make sure it’s durable, and not too heavy (depending on your dog’s size and breed) so it doesn’t bother them too much. You’ll also have a variety of colors, textures, and materials to choose from, but let’s leave that up to your individual liking.
Chew Toys
One of the best ways to keep your new puppy happy while growing is to provide age-appropriate chewing toys, to help them stay engaged, active, and out of trouble. The first chewing toys will be needed when your puppy is 12 to 24 weeks of age. You’ll start with toys that are softer, and only after 24 weeks, you can buy tougher toys to chew on.
Stain and Odor-Removing Cleaners
As much as you adore your new furry friend, you won’t love the mess they leave behind, so make sure you’re packed with stain and odor removers, so you can quickly and easily make your place shine after the puppies had their fun and made a mess. There are tons of removers out there, and one of the best overall is said to be Nature’s Miracle Set-In-Stain remover.
Astoundingly so, even though we can never compare it to a human brain, a dog’s behavior and set of emotions trigger feelings that touch so close to home, that sometimes it is difficult to give them any less credit than feeling like they’ve become another equal part of your family.
Whether you finally decide on becoming a dog owner or not, I’m sure we can agree on one thing. These puppies are so damn adorable!